Crimson Bonds

Chapter 42: Leviathan's Touch

The weight of everything was starting to close in around them, heavy like the air before a storm. The Leviathans' dark energy wasn't just a distant threat anymore-it was here, seeping into every corner of their lives, twisting things, corrupting the supernatural world from within. The city itself seemed to change overnight, a gloom settling over it that no one could explain but everyone could feel.

Babe sat in the small living room of their temporary safe house, staring at his hands, fingers trembling slightly. He could still feel the dark energy, could sense its pull. Ever since the confrontation with the infected, he hadn't been able to shake the feeling that something inside him was changing, something he wasn't sure he could control.

Billy stood by the window, his eyes scanning the streets outside. Even from here, the tension was palpable. The supernatural world was fracturing, splintering into factions of distrust, and it wasn't just because of the human hunters anymore. The Leviathans were stirring, and their influence was already starting to spread.

"They're not stopping," Billy muttered, his voice tight. "The Council, the rogue witches, even the werewolves-everyone's on edge. No one knows who to trust."

Babe nodded, though his gaze stayed on his hands. "It's the Leviathans," he said quietly. "Their energy... it's manipulating everyone. It's turning us against each other."

Billy turned, his sharp gaze softening as he looked at Babe. "You're not letting it get to you, though," he said, though there was a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

Babe shook his head, but he wasn't sure if he believed it himself. Ever since the confrontation, he'd been feeling the darkness more acutely. It was like a shadow lurking in the corners of his mind, whispering to him, tempting him to use his magic in ways he knew he shouldn't. But he had to stay in control. He had to, or everything would fall apart.

"The Leviathans' influence is growing," Babe said, finally looking up at Billy. "They're reaching out to us, to anyone who's vulnerable to dark magic. That's how they're doing it-through the magic that's been amplified by the Blood Moon."

Billy crossed the room, kneeling down in front of Babe. His eyes searched Babe's face, concern etched in every line. "We'll figure this out," Billy said softly. "You're stronger than this. You've already proven that."

Babe wanted to believe him, but the weight of his family's legacy was starting to crush him. Ever since his relative from Thailand had revealed the full extent of the Tanatat family's involvement with the Leviathans, Babe had felt like he was walking a thin line between saving the world and destroying it. His bloodline was tied to the prophecy in ways he was only beginning to understand, and it terrified him.

"They've been waiting for this," Babe murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "The Leviathans. They've been waiting for someone like me to come along. My bloodline... it's what they need to break free."

Billy's jaw tightened. He hated seeing Babe like this-so conflicted, so weighed down by something that wasn't even his fault. "That's not going to happen," Billy said firmly. "We're going to stop them. You're not alone in this."

Babe looked at him, the doubt flickering in his eyes. "What if I'm not strong enough? What if I lose control?"

Billy reached out, his fingers gently brushing against Babe's cheek, grounding him. "You won't," he said, his voice soft but filled with conviction. "I trust you, Babe. And you need to trust yourself."

The room fell quiet as those words settled between them, the gravity of what they were facing pushing down on both of them. Outside, the world was unraveling, but in that moment, with Billy so close, Babe felt a small measure of calm, like an anchor keeping him steady against the storm.

But that calm didn't last long.

A sudden knock on the door broke the silence, and both of them tensed. Billy was up in an instant, moving toward the door with a predator's grace. Babe followed, his pulse quickening. He could feel the dark energy lurking just outside, like a familiar but unwanted presence.

Billy opened the door, revealing Elara, the witch priestess who had been one of the few allies they could still trust. But even as she stepped inside, Babe could sense something was off. Her usual calm demeanor was replaced with a nervous energy, her eyes darting around as though she feared being watched.

"We don't have much time," Elara said, her voice low and urgent. "The Council is splintering, and I'm afraid some of the members have already been compromised."

Billy frowned. "Compromised how?"

Elara glanced at Babe, then back at Billy. "The Leviathans' influence," she explained. "It's spreading faster than we anticipated. It's not just infecting the weaker minds. It's getting to people in positions of power. And I'm afraid someone in the Council has already turned against us."

Babe's stomach twisted. The Leviathans' touch was deeper than he thought. If they could manipulate key figures in the supernatural world, then everything was about to become a thousand times more complicated.

"They're using the dark energy to sow discord," Elara continued. "Turning factions against each other, making it impossible to tell who's still on our side. The Council is tearing itself apart, and no one can agree on how to handle the human hunters or the Leviathans."

Billy clenched his fists, his frustration clear. "So what do we do?"

Elara's gaze fell on Babe. "We need to focus on controlling your power," she said. "You're the key to all of this, Babe. If we can figure out how to use your magic without letting the Leviathans gain control, we might still have a chance to stop them."

Babe's heart raced. "And if I can't control it?"

Elara's expression darkened. "Then the Leviathans will be unstoppable."

The weight of her words hung heavy in the room. Babe had always known that his bloodline was important, but now it felt like the entire fate of the world rested on his shoulders. The dark energy inside him pulsed, a constant reminder of the power he had barely begun to understand.

As Elara left, Babe stood by the window, staring out at the darkening sky. The Leviathans were growing stronger, their influence spreading further with every passing day. And he was at the center of it all, the key to either sealing them away for good or unleashing them upon the world.

Billy came up behind him, wrapping his arms around Babe's waist and pulling him close. "We'll figure this out," he whispered, his breath warm against Babe's neck.

Babe leaned back into him, closing his eyes as he let himself relax, just for a moment. He could feel the strength in Billy's embrace, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, and it gave him the courage to keep going. No matter how dark things got, they still had each other. And right now, that was all that mattered.

"Billy..." Babe began, his voice soft. "Thank you. For being here. For not giving up on me."

Billy kissed the top of his head. "I told you, I'm not going anywhere, Tofu."

Babe smiled at the nickname, the silly yet endearing reminder that even in the midst of chaos, they still had moments of lightness between them. "Mumu," he whispered, turning in Billy's arms to face him.

Their lips met in a slow, tender kiss, a moment of quiet amidst the storm. The world outside may have been falling apart, but here, with Billy, Babe felt like he could face anything.

Together.

But as they pulled apart, the reality of their situation settled back in. The Leviathans were coming, and the countdown to their full emergence had already begun.